McCain Hosts Key Anti-Choice "Friends" at Memorial Day Retreat

Washington, D.C. – As Americans prepare for their Memorial Day weekend celebrations, Sen. John McCain is gathering influential anti-choice politicians – many of whom are considered possible vice-presidential running mates – at his Arizona retreat. Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, said the guest list is no surprise.

"Considering John McCain's recent efforts to reach his party's disengaged far-right base, it's no surprise that he's now courting the likes of anti-choice former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, as possible vice-presidential running mates," Keenan said. "McCain has long clung to his 'moderate maverick' image, but it's obvious now that he is making his anti-choice credentials clear. McCain has spent 25 years in Congress supporting an anti-choice agenda, and he's now looking to team up with a new face of the far-right base, to provide even more clarity to any remaining unconvinced critics."

During his tenure as governor of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney's self-described position on abortion and other reproductive-rights issues shifted from pro-choice to anti-choice. During his recent presidential run, when asked if the repeal of Roe v. Wade would be a good day for America, Romney responded, "Absolutely." As governor, Romney even vetoed a commonsense measure that would have improved access to emergency contraception for sexual-assault survivors.